IWM Biography

My background ticked all the boxes for an HSBC Expat Wealth Manager.

I was born in Malta and lived there for the early part of my life. I studied for my A-Levels in Malta and obtained my degree from the University of Manchester. After graduating, I started my career in banking with one of the major banks in Malta.

In May 2002 I took up the post of Relationship Manager within the bank's Wealth Management Unit, where I gave independent financial advice to high net worth residents and non-residents. Due to the nature of my job, I travelled all over Europe to meet clients. I also played an active role in setting up the bank's Trust Unit, and I was authorised by the Malta Financial Services Authority to act as a trustee on behalf of the bank.

I joined HSBC Bank international (now HSBC Expat) in 2006, as a Wealth Manager, supporting clients based in Europe.

In 2009 I was offered the same role in the UK. This enabled me to look after clients based in the UK, as well as Europe.

In central London, a lot of my clients work in the finance industry - and they appreciate my insight and expertise when we're discussing more complex products.

I help clients at every stage in life, from expats on their first international assignment to families with young children and couples who've returned to their home country to retire.

I often find that not everyone understands all the implications of becoming an expat - and how this could affect their life over the years. This is where my international experience comes to the fore.

Taking into account each client's knowledge and experience, I explain the options available to them. My aim is to recommend solutions that are as internationally mobile as my clients - giving them the information they need to make informed decisions about their financial plans and investments.

It's important to listen to my clients and understand their needs. Only when I have a detailed picture of their individual circumstances and their financial goals can I make the best possible recommendations.

There are certain things people tend to forget - and issues they haven't considered. For example, is their life cover portable? What will happen to their pension* now they're an expat? And do they have contingency plans in case their assignment ends early? Once I've got all the information I need, I'll research the solutions with the help of the HSBC Group's global resources. Then I'll put together a detailed report with all my recommendations.

*Please note that with UK pension policies, contributions cannot be accessed until retirement. UK pension policies cannot normally be accessed until age 55

I have access to a wide range of products from the marketplace, not just HSBC. All the products are sourced from HSBC's preferred providers with the final selection carried out by HSBC Expat using a rigid analysis and approval process.

So when I'm selecting investments, I focus on a client's individual needs - finding products that will help them achieve their financial goals. I also make sure every product I recommend is in line with their risk profile and represents real value for them.

As specialists in expat banking and wealth management, we provide our clients with a comprehensive range of financial solutions that feature the very best products from investment providers around the world. The products we recommend have been carefully selected by independent teams of market experts, so they all meet the HSBC standard.

A lot of my clients use our AssetMaster service to get live portfolio valuations online. But most people don't have time to drill down to the detail. So they ask me to review their portfolio and check it's still in line with their plans and priorities.

This level of service is incredibly important to our clients. It's why so many people plan and invest with us all their working lives - and during their retirement. It's also why they recommend our service to family, friends and colleagues.